Secret Warriors #27

Part of the "Wheels Within Wheels" arc, this 2011 Marvel issue sets an appropriately tense mood with Paul Renaud's striking cover — a S.H.I.E.L.D.-emblazoned pistol dominating the foreground while a shadowy figure looms in the background, suggesting layers of espionage and mistrust. Jonathan Hickman and Alessandro Vitti continue their run on one of Marvel's most conspiracy-driven series, where covert agendas and shifting allegiances keep readers second-guessing every page. If cold-war-style intrigue wrapped in superhero mythology is your thing, this issue delivers that atmosphere in spades.